Test Order

Human

Serum.
The following conditions may result in the specimen being rejected for testing:
• Specimen is hemolyzed, lipemic, or bacterially contaminated.
• Specimen is not frozen upon receipt at CDC.

0.5 mL

If it has been >3 days after symptom onset, blood for serologic testing should be collected by aseptic venipuncture. Do not add anticoagulants or preservatives. Collect blood in a red-top or serum-separator tube (SST). Tubes containing whole blood should not be stored frozen (-20°C or lower).

Centrifuge blood collection tubes (10 minutes at 1000 – 1300 g) to separate serum from clot. Gel separation tubes should be centrifuged no more than 2 hours after collection. Aseptically transfer serum to a sterile tube that has an externally threaded cap with an o–ring seal.

If the serum sample collected >3 days after parotitis onset is IgM negative, and the case has a negative (or not done) result for RT-PCR, and there is a strong suspicion of mumps a second serum sample collected greater than 5 days after symptom onset is recommended because, in some cases, the IgM response is not detectable until 5 days after symptom onset.

Refrigerate serum (2-8°C) within 8 hours of collection. Serum samples should not be stored at room temperature (15-25°C) for longer than 8 hours after collection. If the samples will be stored for more than 48 hours, freeze specimens (-20°C or lower). All samples submitted for serology testing should be frozen (-20°C or lower) and shipped on dry ice. Serum specimens can be stored frozen (-20°C or lower) for up to 8 weeks prior to shipping.

Avoid multiple freeze/thaw cycles which may cause loss of antibody activity and give erroneous results.

Not Applicable

Test subject to CLIA regulations and requires two primary patient identifiers (e.g., patient first and last name, date of birth, unique patient identifier from time of collection, such as medical record number) on the specimen container and on the test requisition.

CDC does not accept routine shipments on weekends or holidays. Please make sure packages arrive Monday – Friday. Freeze serum specimens and ship to CDC frozen on dry ice overnight. Specimens should be shipped in proper secondary containment to prevent exposures due to leaks in primary tubes.

Ship To:
[Insert CDC Point of Contact]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
RDSB/STATT Unit 81
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
[Insert CDC Point of Contact’s Telephone Number]

All samples must be shipped in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal regulations. Upon shipment, submitter should send an email to the CDC POC providing shipping company, shipped date and package tracking number.

CDC IgM Capture, Commercial indirect IgG

7 Days

1.8